Mat 2:1-3 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; (ESV)
Wise men came looking for he who had been born king of the Jews so that they could worship him. Herod the king was troubled when he heard those words. These wise men from the east made quite an impression on him. He didn't take lightly what they said.
The passage of Scripture does not tell us that there were three wise men or that they came on camels riding alone. It is more likely that however many of the wise men there were, they probably were in a much larger contingent of men either on horses or camels to safely travel, especially since they brought costly gifts with them. However many there were, they caused great concern to Herod and all the people of Jerusalem.
Herod took what the wise men said so seriously that when they failed to heed his request that they return and report to him after they found the child, he ordered all the boys under two years of age be killed.
When the wise men found the child they fell down and worshiped him, and offered him their gifts. Perhaps those gifts proved useful to Joseph and Mary when they heeded the command of an angel to flee to Egypt because Herod was determined to seek and destroy the child.
Herod wanted preserve his position of authority and the life it provided him. He would take any action he deemed necessary to prevent the possibility of losing what he had. Even the citizens of Jerusalem were concerned. As it was they were a people in a occupied nation, they didn't want more difficulties that of a new ruler might bring.
During his reign king Herod killed many in an attempt to keep in power. But he failed to kill Jesus, and he was long gone when it was time for Jesus to allow Himself to be slain for our sins. Jesus was only killed at the time and in the manner that God had determined was acceptable, and only after His Son Jesus had accomplished everything that He'd been sent to accomplish. And then, on the third day, Jesus rose victorious from the grave to never die again.
How do we respond to Jesus? He is the one true Savior who alone paid the price for our sins. And He is the eternal King who is worthy to be worshiped and obeyed. Are we thankful to Him for who He is and what He has done and will do? Or do we want to eliminate Him in whatever way we can, ignoring and neglecting Him as much as possible since we're too "nice" (and limited in our abilities) to seek to get him out of our lives by actually killing Him.
How much are we like the wise men? How much are we like Herod? Do we need to change? Do we need to turn to the One who can change us?
Are we going to be like the wise men and fall down and worship Jesus as the everlasting King, or be like Herod the king who sought to kill Jesus so we can be king in our own lives?
